What is the difference between the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) and the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC)? It is officially said that the BTB was born on the debris of the BPC. If that is so, why should Bangladeshis continue to pay for keeping the BPC alive? The BTB was born in September, 2010 seemingly out of mere whims of the people at the helm of affairs. And believe it or not, even after three years of its existence, the Board could not make any visible headway towards promoting what it stood for; nor could it even frame service rules for its staff. A report in the FE in its issue on November 24 said as many as 154 posts were created in the BTB's organogram where 30 top slots are to be filled by government officials. It is really funny that the Board is being presently run through hiring staff members on a contractual basis and conditional recruitment. A joint secretary is working as its chief executive officer (CEO).
Although not yet in full-fledged operation, the BTB has not lagged behind in charting its own course on its website. It said: "It was felt imperative to have a National Tourism Organisation (NTO) in the country over the years which will steward all promotional and development activities for the tourism industry. But for a full-fledged NTO, the responsibility was not properly aligned and identified. Even though Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation was established in 1973, it could not play the role of an NTO as this organisation was given the dual responsibility to pioneer and run tourism business installations and services as well as promotional activities since its inception. Currently the organisation is running its activities with the revenue it can generate running its hotels, motels and duty-free operations."
Those who decide the fate of the tourism industry in Bangladesh are seemingly not still aware of how efficiently tourism issues are being handled in our neighbouring countries like India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Right from the day one of their arrivals in airports, foreign tourists are treated as honoured guests in those countries. Journeys from airports to cheaper hotels are made comfortable while different private sector travel agencies are at hand to serve them in different locations of great tourism interest. But mind you, one can't find there an army of beggars, as it is in Bangladesh today, crying in chorus for alms from the tourists, particularly from the western and Middle Eastern countries. One is surprised to see such beggars making nuisance in front of the posh hotels in Dhaka and Chittagong, greatly impairing the image of the country.
Although domestic tourism has increased, Bangladesh has miserably failed to attract foreign tourists. Most destination countries in our region now have superb low-cost resorts and attractions, unique culture, landscape and heritage. Each place describes itself as having the friendliest people, and high standards of customer service. As a result, the need for destinations to create an identity -- to differentiate themselves from their competitors -- is more critical than ever.
Bangladesh is yet to learn any lessons that neighbouring India, troubled Sri Lanka and Pakistan have offered in the field of tourism.
Tourism in Pakistan, a country with ceaseless bloody violence, has succeeded in drawing tourists. Despite adverse travel advisories by the West and law and order problems due to the war on terror, foreigners continue to head towards this not-so-tourist-friendly country. Nearly 900,000 foreigners came to Pakistan during the last 10 months. The tourists brought with them over $253 million in foreign exchange.
Aided by a healthy 13 per cent improvement in June, tourist arrivals into post-war Sri Lanka in the first half of this year have crossed half a million mark, the latest data showed. Sri Lanka is targeting 1.25 million tourist arrivals this year, up from one million in 2012. Earnings from tourism are projected to hit $1.5 billion, up from $1.0 billion last year.
About 6.3 million foreign tourists came to India in 2012. That is a 5.4 per cent increase from the previous year, and twice the world average. The period between November and March is the peak season for tourism in India, typically bringing in hordes of foreign tourists to beach resorts and heritage sites across the country. Hotels are already reporting advanced bookings in many cities -- a sign that could bring welcome relief to India's flagging economy. And as winter sets in, hundreds of thousands of tourists from Europe and America head towards the warmer climes in India. Hotels in Jaipur and Agra, the two most favourite spots for foreign tourists, are already booked until January next.
No wonder, former Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader once lamented that Bangladesh's tourism industry lagged far behind that of the three countries of the region. Experts say setting up of organisations one after another like the BPC and the BTB will only cause drainage of public resources. What is badly needed is formulation of policy guidelines on how to attract foreign tourists and on how to give them their money's worth. There must be a healthy public-private partnership in exploiting in full the great potentials the country offers as a BEAUTIFUL BANGLADESH.
arjayster@gmail.com
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
